County Durham

County Durham's population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. At the same time there were changes in health and housing tenure.

The population passed half a million

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of County Durham increased by 4.0%, from just over 493,000 to 513,000.

The addition of almost 20,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, County Durham was home to, on average, 1.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres). This made it the North East's second-least densely-populated unitary authority.

Population density was similar to the average across the North East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the North East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Health improved

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's well-being.

The percentage of County Durham residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 13% in 2001 to 8.2% in 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (76%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 63% in 2001. The percentage of County Durham residents that described their health as fair decreased from 24% to 16%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 12% in 2001 to 7.5% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in County Durham decreased by 5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in County Durham, the North East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

This area saw the North East's second-largest fall in the proportion of people working long hours.

Across the region, only South Tyneside saw a greater fall in the proportion of people working long hours (from 12% to 9.1%).

Every local authority area across the North East saw a fall in the proportion of people working long hours, as the regional average fell from 11% to 8.4%.

In 2011, just over 1 in 12 (8.6%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in County Durham said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 11% in 2001. The percentage that worked less than 16 hours in a week increased from 1.4% to 2.7%.

Long hour working in County Durham decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in County Durham, the North East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

This area saw the North East's third-largest rise in the proportion of students.

Across the region, only Newcastle upon Tyne (from 3.8% to 6.8%) and Middlesbrough (from 3.0% to 4.4%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of students.

Every local authority area across the North East saw a rise in the proportion of students, as the regional average grew from 2.3% to 3.3%.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) people aged 16 to 74 in County Durham said they were in education, compared with 1.8% in 2001. The percentage that were employed increased from 49% to 51%.

The percentage of students was lower than across the North East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that that said they were in education across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in County Durham that rented privately increased from 5.9% to 13% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in five (20%) households lived in social housing, compared with 25% in 2001. The percentage of County Durham households that owner their home decreased from 67% to 66%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 14% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in County Durham increased by 6.7 percentage points

Percentage of households in County Durham, the North East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer homes with children

The percentage of households with children fell in County Durham at a faster rate than across England.

In County Durham, the proportion of households with children decreased from 30% in 2001 to 27% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England decreased from 30% to 29%.

Across the North East, the share of households with children decreased from 30% to 28%.

The proportion of households without children in County Durham increased from 59% to 62%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents remained close to 11%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the North East

Percentage of households that with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

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